Fact or Fiction: Fight It Out!

Step forth, student. So you think you have superior fighting knowledge -- think you can prevail against a true master of the martial arts, eh? Well today we shall see if all that training, gaming and movie watching have paid off. Can you know the difference between real martial arts maneuvers and fictional ones? In this quiz you shall face both. Fight!

Start Quiz »

You scored

0 out of 10

Question 1 of 10

Your opponent is crafty. He dodges your first blow and attacks with the two-finger eye strike! Is this martial arts maneuver fact, fiction or almost fact?

fact

While a favorite move of pro-wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper and The Three Stooges, the two-finger eye poke is also listed in Dr. Ted Gambordella's "The 100 Deadliest Karate Moves." Were you able to block that one?

fiction

a little of both

Question 2 of 10

You manage to send your opponent sprawling on his next attack. The time is right to attack with the hadouken! Is it real?

fact

fiction

If you attempted the hadouken, then you look quite the fool, student. While connecting your wrists and thrusting forward may summon a bolt of flaming, blue spirit energy in the "Street Fighter" video game series, it will get you nowhere in reality.

a little of both

Question 3 of 10

Your opponent manages to trip you. You suddenly realize that he is going for the dreaded Boston crab! React, student!

fact

fiction

a little of both

Such deception! The Boston Crab is indeed an established submission hold in the scripted, fictional world of pro-wrestling. You may have also found that it was next to impossible to lock on your kid brother without his cooperation. And yet, in the very real world of Judo the hold is known as ryo-ashi-hishigi, or double leg crush. Perform a Google image search if you do not believe your master!

Question 4 of 10

After that fiasco with the Boston crab, chance smiles on you. As you both scramble for purchase on the ground, you wrap your legs around your opponent! Should you use the gogoplata?

fact

As a wise sensei once said, "Silly names hide the most pain!" It may sound like something from a cartoon, but the gogoplata is a legitimate mixed martial arts hold. Applied from the rubber guard position, this move requires a flexible user to place his shin against the opponent's throat, while pulling the head forward into the choke.

fiction

a little of both

Question 5 of 10

Your attempts to apply submission holds have proved ineffective. You and your opponent scramble back to your feet. You block his weak kick. He deflects your palm strike. Then, out of nowhere, he attempts to use the Shaolin Buddha finger! How real is this move?

fact

fiction

a little of both

As depicted in the 1983 Hong Kong film "Shaolin dou La Ma," The Shaolin Buddha Finger is a near-mystical strike. The hero extends his middle finger knuckle to deliver crippling blows to his opponent's weakest points. Each strike makes a symbol-clashing noise. Pure fiction! Yet, middle finger knuckle strikes are used in a variety of martial arts, only without the sound effects.

Question 6 of 10

Now it is your turn to strike! Your next choice is the shadow kick -- is it fact, fiction or almost fact?

fact

fiction

The shadow kick was made famous by the very fictional Johnny Cage in the "Mortal Kombat" video game series. It is not to be confused with the shadowless kick, however, made famous by Chinese master Wong Fei Hung.

a little of both

Question 7 of 10

The fight is nearing its end. Are you winded? Well, think fast because your opponent is going for the bakurikimaha!

fact

fiction

The bakurikimaha or "demon energy wave" is a fantastic attack -- provided you're a character in "Dragon Ball Z." The villain King Piccolo uses the move to great effect, but good luck using it in a real fight!

a little of both

Question 8 of 10

Winded, you and your opponent trade punches and kicks once more -- but then he stumbles and falls flat on his stomach! Should you attempt to pin him down in the straddle of the fish?

fact

fiction

Practitioners Déjà-Fu have been known to use the straddle of the fish against opponents, but only in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Déjà-Fu requires the martial artists to use time itself as a weapon. Yes, it's quite fictional!

a little of both

Question 9 of 10

As you move in once more, your opponent drops to one knee and attempts to use monkey steals the peach. Fact, fiction or almost fact?

fact

Much to the dismay of testicles, monkey steals the peach is real. According to controversial martial artist and author Ashida Kim, this is the classical name for an upward groin slap. A kneeling fighter raises a clinched claw strike into an opponent's groin. Ouch!

fiction

a little of both

Question 10 of 10

You are both sore, bleeding and gasping for breath. One move could make all the difference! Dare you attempt the La Magistral Cradle? Make your final move! Fact, fiction or almost fact?

fact

fiction

First, the La Magistral Cradle is a pinning maneuver, making it fairly useless in an actual fight. Second, it’s a Mexican pro-wrestling or lucha libre move, which means that the primary emphasis is on intricacy and flash. If you were counting on this move to earn your victory, then you have failed, student!